PLEINESS: Dakota star evokes images of Fraser's McGinnis (With Video)

Dakota hitter Carli Snyder and her teammates celebrate winning a point in the Cougars’ sweep in the Class A volleyball state final on Saturday at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek. (Robert J. Youngs Jr.)

BATTLE CREEK --I’ve seen a lot of Macomb County volleyball teams play in my time as a reporter, and one name came to mind first when I looked back at all those games: Angie McGinnis.

There’s a new name now: Carli Snyder.

And if you haven’t gotten a chance to see a Dakota game over the last three years, I’d highly recommend doing so before Snyder graduates after next season.

“Angie was an outstanding player and teammate,” said Cougars assistant coach Kristi Skladnowski, who was a teammate of McGinnis’ for two seasons at Fraser. “She led our team right from the start from her freshman year all the way through to her senior year.

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“I see a lot of that in Carli,” Skladnowski added. “She’s a strong leader and a very humble player. She wants the best for her teammates all the time. She’s there to compliment every single one of her teammates, whether it’s a set by Megan (Manierski) or a pass by Natalie (Janes). Angie was like that too. They both were expected to have a big role on their teams at a young age.”

As a freshman, McGinnis led the Ramblers to the Final Four and then to a state championship game as a sophomore. She capped her high school career with back-to-back state titles.

On Saturday, Snyder, a junior, got her first state title, leading the Cougars over Temperance Bedford, 25-22, 25-21, 26-24, at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.

“Their attitudes, the want to win and that competitive level, taking charge, it’s all there from both of them,” Dakota coach Tracie Ferguson said. “They both command the court.”

Snyder finished with the third-most kills in a state title match, 31.

“For her being such a stud athlete she plays big but pays the compliments out to her teammates just as big and you don’t see that too often,” Skladnowski said of Snyder.

You won’t find many players at that age able to handle the pressures of being a team leader, and Snyder struggled with that at first.

Snyder was good her freshman year, but struggled with the mental aspect of the game. A hitting error of hers is something that could take her off her game.

As a sophomore you saw improvement. She didn’t get as frustrated.

“You also didn’t think there was much more room for improvement in her overall skills,” current Fraser volleyball coach Melissa Criteser said. “Boy was that wrong. She comes back her junior year and it’s amazing. Her overall attitude, there’s no frustrations.

“She’s a leader and knows what to expect,” Criteser continued. “She doesn’t let any part of the game get to her. She takes it play-by-play and point-by-point. She knows errors aren’t a big deal anymore whereas her freshman year it would have been the end of her.”

McGinnis was in the United States Olympic program, and was named the best setter at the 2004 NORCECA Championships, where the United States won gold.

Snyder did the same over this past summer, capturing gold and earning tournament MVP honors.

McGinnis was a standout at the University of Florida.

Snyder has already made a verbal commitment to be a Gator after next season.

“When you watched her play last year as a coach we knew what she could already do, but how was she going to get better,” Criteser questioned. “And when she came back this year, her ability to see the court, no matter if she’s front row or back row, and put a ball to the floor is just amazing. She improved tremendously when you didn’t think it was possible. When you’re defending, you know no matter if she’s up front or in the back that she’s going to score off her attack.”

The only difference, and it’s a big one, is that McGinnis was a setter at Fraser, while Snyder is an outside hitter.

“Angie ran the offense, while Carli has to depend on the team to get her the pass and the set and then she executes it on her end,” Criteser said. “They both are huge role models to the team. They play very comparable roles, just different positions.

“I think they’re both equally the same player,” Criteser added. “You can’t say either one of them is better. They’re very unique players at their own positions. They’re probably the best I’ve seen in their positions as all-around players.”

McGinnis was awarded the 2004 Miss Volleyball award for Michigan.

All signs point to Snyder receiving the same award next season, and perhaps another state title.